September 5, 2008
VP CONTEST:
We've got lots more books to give away so let's hear who you think the Unicorn Rider and the Maverick will pick as their running mates?
Posted by Orrin Judd at September 5, 2008 5:45 PMMaverick: Sarah Palin
Unicorn Rider: Sam Nunn
McCain; Pawlenty
Obama; Bayh
I agree with Matt -- Eric Cantor.
Posted by: LC at August 5, 2008 7:22 PMI agree with narciso. Pawlenty and Bayh.
Posted by: Hunter at August 5, 2008 7:31 PMCantor and Joe Biden. As badly as Obama needs someone like Nunn, it's been 15 years since he was a force. Biden will provide the seeming gravitas without the twang, although Joe is a fool who likes his own voice more than most Senators. Bayh is just too vapid.
Cantor will give McCain juice with the conservatives, but won't threaten him the way some other choices might. Palin or Michael Steele would be great choices as well, but they are comparatively new on stage. Pawlenty is a 'favorite son' choice, but VA has 13 electoral votes and MN has 10. Unless McCain feels the 'need' for executive experience (which doesn't seem noticeable), then Cantor is the better pick.
Posted by: jim hamlen at August 5, 2008 8:51 PMNarciso nailed it on both counts
McCain; Pawlenty
Obama; Bayh
Pawlenty wins him MI, WI, MN, making PA an afterthought and circumventing OH
Posted by: Bruno at August 5, 2008 9:32 PMObama - Richardson to make a pander to the Hispanic vote, someone with executive/foreign experience, and perhaps calm Bill/Hillary down.
McCain - I'll say Pawlenty but polls don't show him getting McCain MI, WI, or even MN as Bruno suggests. Agree with above that Palin, Jindel are too new. Cantor gets conservatives excited but is little known and would be seen as a defensive pick to hold a GOP state. Romney would be a good choice but won't be picked on personal reasons.
Posted by: AWW at August 5, 2008 9:51 PMPawlenty and Hillary
Posted by: curt at August 5, 2008 9:53 PMUnicorn: Mitchell
Maverick: Charlie Crist
MikeD
McCain: Cantor
Obama: Richardson
Joe Biden reminds us all that the Framers made a big mistake: not every small state has two qualified citizens to send to the Senate.
Posted by: Steve White at August 5, 2008 10:28 PMBayh for the 'corn
Pawlenty for Mav
Both solid picks but with minimal ability to move the electoral college map.
I feer OJ is too optimistic. It's a perfect storm for the Unicorn this year. The Republic will survive and we'll have lots of fun here. But it will still suck overall. It will be like the 70s with the occasional Rick Monday incident to provide hope.
Posted by: JAB at August 5, 2008 11:19 PMObama: Bob Kerrey
McCain: Sarah Palin
Bob Kerrey and Sarah Palin
Posted by: Matt Cohen at August 5, 2008 11:35 PMMcCain: Pawlenty
Obama:Tim Kaine
Obama needs someone who can speak to blue collar workers and not condescend, someone with a reputation for putting America first. Unfortunately, Bill Clinton isn't available and the Democrats don't have many of that type left in stock. Perhaps Bob Kerrey or Sam Nunn?
For McCain - after seeing the Paris Hilton commercial I have to say that she came across as being brighter than Sen. Obama, and Sen. McCain could do worse...
Posted by: Mikey at August 6, 2008 9:23 AMMcCain: Hillary Clinton
Posted by: Bob at August 6, 2008 10:09 AMBiden and Pawlenty
Posted by: Marc at August 6, 2008 11:08 AMI want to claim "None of the Above" for both. That is, names that no one expects or has mentioned this far in advance. One or both of these guys is going to try to get cute and go the "non-traditional" route.
(Was Dan Quayle expected more than a few days before his announcement?)
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at August 6, 2008 12:13 PMObama: Ann Coulter
McCain: Jason Isringhausen
Mav: Cantor
Obama: Hillary
Obama will probably pick Tim Kaine in a play for Virginia's electoral votes. A white southerner gives some balance to the ticket. Insiders like Biden and Nunn will be viewed as unacceptable since that will go off message.
Coming out the Democratic Convention, Obama will be polling with (I guess) a 15 point lead, coverage of his VP pick will be adulatory. The press will treat his acceptance speech as a combination of the Gettysburg Address, George Washington's farewell speech and the Sermon on the Mount. (Meanwhile, Andrew Sullivan will have to be hospitalized to control his hyperventilating). There will be lots of talk of momentum and inevitableness, even though a strong lead after the convention is very ordinary.
At that point, McCain will probably want to pick a VP who adds some excitement to the ticket and hits Obama at a vulnerable spot. If he picks a pro-choicer, there will be too much unhappiness at the convention, which the press would love to cover. Even though she provides no geographical advantage, I think Sarah Palin will be the pick. She offers the prospect of pulling some of the Hillary vote away from Obama.
Her weakness is a relative lack of experience, but that is not an issue if Kaine is the Democratic V.P. nominee.
Shortly after the Republican convention, McCain will pull into the lead, which will stay firm until the debates.
Mav: Kansas Senator Sam Brownback
Uni: Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
Posted by: AC at August 6, 2008 5:45 PMMcCain: Pawlenty
Obama: Richardson (because Jed Bartlett is not available)
Unicorn Rider: Sibelius
McCain: Thune
Maverick: Pawlenty
Obama: Himself (He is the one he was waiting for)
I have no idea, so here are the most ridiculous possible picks.
Maverick: Dan Quayle
Unicorn Rider: John Glenn
There's been a Bush, Nixon or Dole on the ballot every year since 1952 except 1964. McCain has to pick Elizabeth Dole to keep that tradition alive.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at August 7, 2008 1:47 PMRegarding Gov Sarah Palin, Joe over at palinforvp.blogspot.com says:
Now that Palin has successfully maneuvered two tremendously difficult bills through the Alaskan legislature, each having to do with energy, she truly has stature on the entire energy issue, and has stature as a governor who can get things done in a political world where stalemate usually rules the day.
I now agree that McCain should make his move.
Imagine the ads...
1. "She is a young woman who ran against the Republican establishment, and has effectively moved Alaksa in the direction of reform, against all odds.
Don't just hope for change, VOTE FOR IT. McCain/Palin 2008."
2. "She is a governor who in 2 years of office passed a law that had been lanquishing for years; a law that will allow for the flow of natural gas resources from the great state of Alaska to the midwest, into energy hungry areas. Against all odds.
Don't just hope for change, VOTE FOR IT. McCain/Palin, 2008."
3. "She is a governor who insisted her state legistlature stay in session until a true energy plan could be put into place offering real and immediate relief to Alaska's citizens during this difficult energy crunch.
Don't just hope for change, VOTE FOR IT. McCain/Palin, 2008."
4. "She is a mother of 5. She is an avid hunter, fisher, one who loves and believes in the importance of the environment for us and for future generations. She also understands that energy resources can and should be tapped in ways that do not threaten our land. She believes it and is doing it.
Don't just hope for change, VOTE FOR IT. McCain/Palin, 2008."
5. John McCain. The Original Maverick. Sarah Palin. The New Maverick. Together they fought 'A Bridge to Nowhere' and knocked the establishment on its heals. Together, they will reform America.
Don't just hope for change, VOTE FOR IT. McCain/Palin, 2008."
Congratulations, Governor Palin. Senator McCain, please make your move.
Posted by: Ted at August 8, 2008 8:24 AMObama-Clinton
McCain-Hilton
McCain-Pawlenty
Obama-Clooney
Unicorn's pick ICCFL!
The guys at Powerline have come up with an interesting one for Maverick,tnx to Hugh Hewitt's blog.
Former MI Governor John Engler!
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/08/021222.php
http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/40866e81-53ff-40f4-8281-0ece52a3fa07
I claim Engler as one of my "None of the Above".
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at August 12, 2008 8:31 AM
Eric Cantor.
Posted by: Matt Murphy at August 5, 2008 6:37 PM